The Swedish company Bladelius Design Group produces high-end components under the Bladelius brand. The company is named after its chief developer, Michael Bladelius. Devices are most often named after the gods of the Scandinavian pantheon. So, one of the best integrated amplifiers in the world is named Thor (in Norse mythology - the god of thunder, who has tremendous power), and the CD / SACD / DVD audio player - Freya (goddess of love).
Michael Bladelius created his first amplifier when he was barely 14 years old. While studying engineering at the university, he went to Sacramento, California, where he managed to meet with Nelson Pass himself, an American "guru" of electronics who worked for the famous company Threshold. The young man managed to make such an impression on N. Pass that, before he had time to return to Sweden, Nelson Pass personally called him and offered him a job at Threshold. At Threshold, Michael worked intensively under the direct guidance and supervision of Nelson Pass.
1992 Nelson Pass left Threshold and started his own. So Michael Bladelius became the chief designer of Threshold. Some of Michael's designs have won prestigious awards from Stereophile magazine, including the earlier Threshold T2 and the T-200 power amplifier. Michael is also the developer of the older T-500 and T-800 models. In 1994, Michael left Threshold and founded the Bladelius Design Group, a hardware development company. A number of well-known manufacturers of high-end equipment also used Michael's services (Classe Audio, Threshold, Pass Labs, Ultra Analog and Primare Systems (it was he who designed the "10th", "20th" and "30th" series of this brand).
The integrated amplifier Bladelius Thor at the start in 2006 cost $5,000. The entire body of the amplifier is made of aluminum (the screws are also made of aluminum). There are ventilation holes in the case. Loudspeaker terminals of the German company WBT. In addition, there is one balanced input and four RCA inputs, there is a recording output (Tape Out) and a pre-amplifier output (Pre Out). A giant toroidal transformer is installed inside the case next to the front panel. It is separated from the electronics by a large radiator, to which eight pairs (four per channel) of power transistors are attached.
The signal from them is output directly to the acoustic terminals. Balanced entry is not just marketing hype. The amplifier is fully balanced - there are actually four identical power sections (two channels and two branches - plus and minus - each). Using a balanced design allows you to reduce the level of noise and distortion. A pair of "pre amp" outputs allow connection to an external power amplifier, and the Thor is used as a pre-amplifier.

Description of Bladelius Thor

Fully balanced integrated amplifier
Multifunctional remote control
The possibility of working in a home theater system and with a power amplifier
5 pairs of inputs: 1 XLR, 1 RCA 2 pairs of RCA outputs: 1 Pre Out, 1 Tape Out
Extremely low level of distortion - less than 0.1%

Specifications

Fully balanced design 2x100W 8 ohm
Less than 0.1% Thd 20-20Khz
Bandwidth dc-150Khz
Input impedance 20Kohm
Toroidal transformer 650VA
Speaker terminals: WBT